Résumé

Clerk, unknown employer, Racine, WI, c. 1882-1883. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1883, p. 196.) In 1882, there were three architects listed in A.G. Wright's Racine Directory, 1882, Classified Business Directory, (p. 269): L. Bradley, J.G. Chandler and William H. Phelps. It is possible that Lovell apprenticed at age 16 in one of their offices c. 1882-1883.

Apprentice/Draftsman, James M. Wood, Architect, Racine, WI and CA, 1883-1891. During the 1880s, Wood developed a practice designing theatres and opera houses across the US and Canada. Lovell was listed as an architect in the Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1885,(p. 212). He was not listed in the Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1888,(p. 237).

Partner, Wood and Lovell, Architects, San Francisco, CA, and Chicago, IL, 1891-1893. His biographical sketch of 1892 stated of association with Wood: “For the past eight years [c. 1883-1891] Mr. Lovell has been connected with Col. Wood, and a greater portion of this time has had charge of his office work, which in itself is a guarantee of his ability. In 1891 Mr. Lovell became a partner in the business, the firm name becoming Wood & Lovell.”(See The Bay of San Francisco: The Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and Its Suburban Cities, A History, Vol. II, [Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892], p. 462.) It is likely that the Depression of 1893 ruined the plans of Wood and Lovell to maintain a steady practice in San Francisco, forcing them to return to their more established business contacts in the Midwest.

Partner, [James M.] Wood, Lovell and [Fuller] Claflin, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1893.

Principal, Sidney Lovell, Architect, Chicago, IL, 1897- . In 1897, Lovell's Chicago office was situated at 355 Dearborn Avenue, Room #1000. (See Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1897, p. 1286.) The office moved to Room #1300 by 1898. (See Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1898, p. 1120.) In 1909, Lovell had an office in the 1st National Bank Building #4 in Chicago, Room #1442. Architect D.H. Burnham designed this bank building, completed in 1903. (See Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1909, p. 82.)

Partner, Lovell, Walker and Cheney, Architects, Chicago, IL, c. 1914. The Construction News noted in its issue of 04/25/1914: "Sidney Lovell, William Ernest Walker and Howard L. Cheney, architects, now at 38 South Dearborn street, will remove to the Michigan avenue building." (See "Personals," Construction News, vol. XXXVII, no. 17, 04/25/1914, p. 6.) This office was located at 30 North Michigan Avenue in 1916. (See "Illinois," American Constractor, 06/24/1916, p. 42.)

Partner, Lovell and [Marion] Lovell, Architects, Chicago, IL, 1922- . This father-and-son firm developed a concentration in mausoleum design. Marion McDonald Lovell had begun to work in Sidney Lovell's office by at least 06/05/1917, as noted on his World War I draft registration card. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 07/06/2021.)

High School

An 1892 biographical sketch said of his education: “Our subject was reared and educated in his native city, and after leaving school entered the office of an architect with the intention of taking up the profession. Not long after this decision, he had an opportunity of associating himself with Col. J.M. Wood, of Chicago, who is a leader among architects of theaters and public buildings.” (See The Bay of San Francisco: The Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and Its Suburban Cities, A History, Vol. II, [Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892], p. 462.)

Relocation

Born in Racine, WI in 1867, Sidney P. Lovell spent his early years in that city. According to a brief biography written on him in 1892, Lovell parents came from England “…who were among the first settlers of Wisconsin.” (See The Bay of San Francisco: The Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and Its Suburban Cities, A History, Vol. II, [Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892], p. 462.) At age three, the US Census of 1870 indicated that the Lovells were a large family with seven children and one domestic servant, Minnie Brumer, (born c. 1856 in IL), living in Racine's 1st Ward. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Racine Ward 1, Racine, Wisconsin; Roll: M593_1733; Page: 344A, accessed 07/06/2021.)

Sidney's father died in the 1870s, leaving his widow Louisa to support herself with five children--Frank, Charles, Julia, Sidney and Fred--still at home. They lived at 709 Wisconsin Street, where Louisa took on three boarders according to the 1880 US Census. The boarders were engineer Charles Grubbin (born c. 1857 in WI), fireman Chris Jensen (born c. 1855 in Norway), carpenter Louis Yeahea (census spelling likely incorrect, born c. 1832 in Prussia) and his wife Paulina (born c. 1836 in Württemberg, Germany). Widows often took in boarders to earn income during this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Racine, Racine, Wisconsin; Roll: 1443; Page: 319C; Enumeration District: 159, accessed 07/06/2021.)

In 1883, Lovell and his mother boarded at either 327 Wisconsin Avenue or Wisconsin Street. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1883, p. 196.) They resided in Racine, WI, at 1340 Wisconsin Avenue or Wisconsin Street in 1885. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1885, p. 212.) His mother and brothers continued to dwell here in 1888, although Sidney was not listed as being a resident, as he was likely living in CA at the time. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1888,p. 237.)

Lovell spent several years living in San Francisco, CA. He was married in the city in 1890, and, the San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1890, listed Lovell as a draughtsman residing at 1516 Larkin Street. In 1892, he registered to vote in San Francisco, while residing at 1602 Vallejo Street. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 88; FHL Roll Number: 977606, accessed 07/06/2021.)

Sidney Lovell probably returned to Chicago in 1894. His son, Marion McDonald Lovell was born in the city on 07/07/1895, so the family probably had resettled here by then.

Lovell resided in Chicago, IL, between 1897 and 1898, at least, in the Arizona Flats apartment building. (See Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1897, p. 1286 and Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1898, p. 1120.) James M. Wood lived in the Arizona Flats in 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Chicago Ward 32, Cook, Illinois; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 1004; FHL microfilm: 1240285, accessed 02/25/2019.)

The Lovells lived on Woodlawn Avenue in 1910. They employed a domestic servant, Alma S. Forsberg (born c. 1887 in Sweden).

In 1926, Lovell gave an address of 224 East Ontario Street in Chicago. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1891-1943; NAI Number: 4319742; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: T843; NARA Roll Number: 318, accessed 07/06/2021.)

Jane and Sidney Lovell rented an apartment in a large apartment complex at 40 North Oak Street in Chicago in 1930. They paid a hefty $220 per month for this apartment, the second-highest cost in the building at the time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Page: 24B; Enumeration District: 1552; FHL microfilm: 2340218, accessed 07/06/2021.)

The architect passed away in Chicago, IL, at the age of 71. He was interred at his 1912 Rosehill Mausoleum in Chicago, the first of many mausoleums that he would design.

Parents

His father operated as a small businessman, Phillip Lovell (born 1822 in Little Driffield, Yorkshire, England-d. 07/09/1873 in Racine, WI), his mother, Louisa Maria Knill (born 06/21/1827 in England-d. 06/02/1917 in Racine, WI). Phillip Lovell came to the US from England in 1854, according to a 1922 US passport application by Sidney. In 1870, he worked as butcher, and was prosperous, owning $7,000 worth of real estate and $3,000 of other assets.

Louisa arrived in the US on 07/25/1834 in New York, NY, from Liverpool, England, aboard the S.S. Caledonia. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Immigration Lists, 1820-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003, accessed 07/06/2021.)

Siblings of Sidney Lovell included: William W. Lovell (born 01/06/1850 in Racine, WI-d. 01/30/1896), Frank F. Lovell (born 06/27/1851 in Racine, WI-d. 10/28/1882 in an explosion aboard the tug Rudolph Wetzel), Emily Louise Lowell Griffith (born 1857 in Racine, WI-d. 01/18/1936 in Fort Dodge, IA), Harry Lovell (born c. 1859 in Racine, WI), Charles C. Lovell (born 06/04/1861 in Racine, WI-d. 10/28/1904 in Burlington, WI), Julia Lovell Billings (born 05/31/1863 in Racine, WI-d. 08/23/1954 in Racine, WI), Henry Lovell (born c. 1865 in Racine, WI-d. 01/01/1868 in Racine, WI), Henry Lovell (born c. 1865 in Racine, WI-d. 01/01/1868 in Racine, WI), George Lovell (born 1866 in Racine, WI-d. 06/07/1869 in Racine, WI), and Fred F. Lovell (born 11/26/1869 in Racine, WI-d. 07/05/1936 in Chicago, IL)

His brothers Charles C. Lovell and Fred F. Lovell worked as Racine watchmakers in 1888. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1888,p. 237.)

Spouse

He wed Jane Winters "Jennie" Bruner (born 01/06/1869 in San Francisco, CA-d. 12/20/1953 in Chicago, IL) on 04/16/1890 in San Francisco, CA.

Children

He had a daughter, Alice B. Lovell Johanson (born c. 1898 in IL) and a son, Marion McDonald "Don" Lovell (born 07/07/1895 in Chicago, IL-d. 05/30/1960 in Lincoln, NE). Alice wed Ralph T. Johanson (born 05/25/1894-d. 06/1971 in AZ)

He and Don worked together in the architectural firm of Lovell and Lovell.

Biographical Notes

In 1921, Lovell applied for his first US passport to enable him to supervise construction work in Mexico. His passport documentation indicated that he planned to depart from the US in Nogales, AZ, on 09/22/1921, and would take about two months in Mexico. On or about 09/12/1921, he stayed at the Hotel Santa Rita in Tucson, AZ.

At age 54, Lovell stood 5-feet, 11-inches tall. He was Caucasian with a pale complexion with a high forehead, straight nose, medium mouth, and oval chin. His eyes were blue and his hair light brown. (See Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 1738; Volume #: Roll 1738 - Certificates: 83250-83625, 15 Sep 1921-17 Sep 1921, accessed 07/06/2021.) At age 24, voter records listed Lovell as standing 5-feet, 10-and-1/4-inches tall with green eyes and light hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 88; FHL Roll Number: 977606, accessed 07/06/2021.)

During 10/1926, Lovell left for a European excursion aboard the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company’s S.S. Ohio (known as the S.S. Albertic between 1927 and 1934), traveling from New York and Halifax to Southampton, England.(See Source Citation The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists.; Class: BT26; Piece: 831, accessed 07/06/2021.) He returned to Boston, MA, from Naples, Italy, aboard the S.S. President Monroe. The ship left Naples on 11/29/1926 and docked in Boston on 12/16/1926. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1891-1943; NAI Number: 4319742; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: T843; NARA Roll Number: 318, accessed 07/06/2021.)

• Racine, WI (Architect's Birth)
  Racine, WI 53403

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